On Saturday, November 16th, the Hippocratic Cancer Research Foundation (HCRF) raised more than $1.5 million to benefit high-impact translational research at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. “The Heart to Heal” was the theme of HCRF’s fourth annual gala, The Wings to Cure, attended by more than 1000 guests at the Aon Grand Ballroom at Chicago’s Navy Pier. Gala co-chairs, Nicole and Eli Boufis, welcomed guests and shared their passionate stance to take quick and decisive actions and make greater strides towards conquering cancer. Together with HCRF’s founding chair, Eleni Bousis, they thanked friends and supporters for raising funds to “provide hope and improve the quality of life for friends, family and everyone diagnosed with cancer”.
Robert Krantz (Producer, Writer, Director, and Actor), and Lou Canellis (sports anchor at WFLD- TV), were the evening’s emcees. The black-tie event began with an elegant cocktail reception. A video highlighting the ground-breaking research of Lurie Cancer Center’s talented physicians and scientists was followed by remarks from the director, Leonidas Platanias, MD, Ph.D. “Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for being here today. We have built a very strong group, all working to fight cancer together, through research and clinical care. I’m confident, with your support, we will make a big difference.”
Eleni Bousis, founding board member and the foundation’s chair shared said “I am deeply humbled and grateful with the 1000 guests who have joined us this evening in this magical room to give hope, love, and faith to those affected by this horrible illness, cancer. My dear friends, cancer doesn’t spare any faith, race, gender, the poor, the rich or the noble, it is a global epidemic that can strike anyone at any moment without any warning. Many of us in this room have lost loved ones to this horrible disease. We have experienced the agony I have seen those that we love disfigured and stripped of their pride and dignity. We cannot continue bearing children or young parents and watch families fall apart with grief, anger, and pain leaving an unbearable void for those left behind. Cancer research today is promising and advancing. Giving hope where hope was never imagined. However- er, we still have a long way to go. The ultimate gift to society will be to defeat cancer. With your philanthropic support and generosity, we will embark on writing history and conquering this detrimental illness. Dr. Platanias, we applaud you and your world-renowned dream team of extraordinary scientists and physicians, for your relentless determination in pursuing cutting edge research already promising in a quest to defeat all types of cancer.”
It’s not too late to help HCRF support our efforts. Please consider making a gift to the Hippocratic Cancer Research Foundation’s gala here, or contact Katina Kopsias at katina.kopsias@northwest- ern.edu or 312.926.5426.
